Patent · US Active

External bullet anchor apparatus and method for use in surgical repair of ligament or tendon

US7686838B2 · kind B2 · utility

80Cited by
128References
1Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 9, 2006
Grant dateMar 30, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 25, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61F2002/0882
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A surgical anchor device for the repair of a torn ligament or tendon, primarily the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee, is used to affix the ligament within a femoral bone tunnel in the distal portion of the femur from the intra-articular surface, the device providing a pulley for a suture, wherein a free end of the suture may be pulled away from the device to draw the suture attached to the ligament graft within the femoral bone tunnel securing the ligament graft within the bone tunnel. Installation of the device is provided by insertion of the device through a tibial hole, through the femoral tunnel out of the lateral femoral cortex, pulling the attached sutures simultaneously to flatten the device against the lateral femoral cortex, attaching one end of the suture to the ligament graft and pulling the other end of the suture until the graft is situated properly within the femoral bone tunnel and tying the free end of the suture to retain the graft within the femoral bone tunnel.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.